Forbes recently released a list of the top earning hip-hop stars. Despite the slow economy, the top 20 earners on the list managed to pull in a combined total of $300 million. Topping the list was Jay-Z with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs coming in at second.
According to the list, Jay-Z pulled in $63 million this year and Diddy made himself $30 million. The top 10 list is as follows:
Jay-Z – $63 million
Diddy – $30 million
Akon – $21 million
Lil Wayne – $20 million
Dr. Dre – $17 million
Ludacris – $16 million
Snoop Dogg – $15 million
Timbaland – $14 million
Pharrell Williams – $13 million
Kanye West – $12 million
Surprisingly absent from the list were Flo Rida, Eminem and Drake. Em and Drake did make it onto the top 20 though. Drake hit #11 with $10 million and Eminem took #14 with $8 million. Considering #20 was a tie between Gucci Mane, Rick Ross and Lil Jon, all with $5 million, that means Flo Rida made less than $5 million this year, interesting.
I was also surprised to see Akon at #3, I didn’t expect him to make that much. Surprising nobody was Jay-Z taking #1. Clearly he’s still the undisputed king of rap. He more than doubled Diddy and he’s way ahead of everyone else.
What do you think of the list?